Obstetrical forceps

ABSTRACT

THE SPECIFICATION DISCLOSES AN IMPROVED OBSTETRICAL FORCEPS IN WHICH A PAIR OF LIMBS HAVE SCOOPS FORMED ON ONE ENAD AND EXTEND TO A FRAME AT THE OTHER END WHICH JOINS THE LIMBS TOGETHER. THE LIMBS ARE PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE FRAME AND EACH LIMB IS FORMED OF TWO PARTS HINGED TOGETHER AND SUPPORTED AT ABOUT RIGH ANGLES TO EACH   OTHER BY A SPRING DEVICE WHICH LIMITS THE FORCE TO BE EXERTED ON THE FORCEPS.

P 20, 1971 H. SALlNAS-BENAVIDES 3,605,748

OBSTETRICAL FORCEPS Filed Nov. 21, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

INVENTOR Hi6 7 A 8 A1, l V/M 654/4 VIDA:

ATTORNEYS Sept. 20, 1971 Filed Nov. 21, 1969 Fig. 3

H. SALINAS-BENAVIDES 3,605,748

OBSTETRICAL FORCEPS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 4

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,605,748 OBSTETRICAL FORCEPS HectorSalinas-Benavides, Ensenada, 231, Qoloma Mrtras, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon,Mexico Filed Nov. 21, 1969, San lflo. 2278,74219 1969 riori a licafionexico, pr. Clams p 110,777/69 Int. Cl. A61b 17/44; B25b 7/04; B66c 1/692U.S. Cl. 128-323 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This inventionrelates to an improved obstetrics forceps and more particularly to aguiding obstetrics forceps.

For more than 200 years, obstetrics forceps have been employed whennecessary, during parturition, to guide the infant being born along thebirth canal and to assist in the movement thereof along the birth canal.A great variety of forceps have been designed for the purpose referredto but, heretofore, such forceps, in addition to being complicated anddifiicult of manipulation have frequently marked the infants head,produclng bruises and contusions, sometimes to a harmful degree.

The forceps of the present invention are formed mainly by three parts: aright limb, a left limb and a framework. Each of the limbs comprises twoportions oined to each other by means of a hinge and extending at aboutright angles to each other and having a measuring or limiting gauge ordevice interposed therebetween. The first portion constitutes arelatively wide scoop free of openings and with a cephalic curvatureadapted to the head shape, and also with a low-accentuated pelviccurvature, to suit the pelvic channel of the mother. The scoop has analmost straight shank or pedicle extending therefrom and joined to thescoop portion by a small penneal curvature region, adapted to suit theperineum of a woman. The second portion of the limb is joined at one endto the end of the shank, or pedicle, at the end thereof opposite thescoop by means of a hinge. At the outer end of the second portion is alink for connection of the outer end of the hinge to a framework.

The pressure measuring or limiting gauge, or device, is interposedbetween the first and second portions of each limb and effects themeasurement and control of the stress employed during use of theforceps, and can be designed and constructed in several differentmanners. This pressure gauge, as employed in the present (llSClO- sure,comprises a coil spring inside a stainless steel tube, capable ofmeasuring tractions of from about kilograms up to about 30 kilograms.

The framework referred to is formed by two spaced parallel tubes,preferably, made from stainless steel or any other suitable strong,corrosion resistant, easily sanitized material. Each tube is about 1.27centimeters in diameter, about 5.0 centimeters long and the tubes arejoined to each other by strips of stainless steel, or other suitablematerial. The strips are about 25 centimeters long and about 1.5centimeters Wide. The entire forceps are preferably constructed ofstainless steel, but it Will be obvious that, as above stated, othermaterials are also suitable for the manufacture of the forceps.

An object of the present invention is to provide an 3,605,748 PatentedSept. 20, 1971 obstetrics forceps of the guiding type which is easy tomanipulate, inexpensive to manufacture and which avoids the drawbacks ofsuch forceps as heretofore manufactured.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of anobstetrics forceps of the guiding type, having limb portions joined toeach other by means of a hinge, and which limb portions are articulatedto each other by means of a metal framework.

An additional object of the present invention is the provision of aforceps of the type referred to, wherein both limb portions are almoststraight and are not provided with individual handles for pulling on theforceps.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a forcepsreferred to above, wherein the limb portions are made of stainless steeland are cold trimmed and coined.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a forceps providedwith a pressure measuring or limiting gauge device on each limb portion,and wherein each limb portion terminates in wide scoops free of windowsor apertures.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of anobstetrics forceps so constructed as to eliminate special mechanism ordevices for catching the infant when it emerges from the birth canal.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an obstetricalforceps which permits freedom of the infant's head inside the motherspelvis to expedite the descent.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of an obstetricalforceps so designed that the points of maximum pressure thereof on theinfant bear on large areas of the face, and having substantiallystraight limb portions which allow for the traction at the axis of thepelvic channel.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an obstetricalforceps having wide and windowless scoops so as to distribute thetraction stress onto a greater surface and prevent harmful compressionon the head of the infant.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a forceps thatwill allow for a control of the stress employed during use of theforceps.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent upon reference to the following detaileddescription, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the forceps of this invention, inan assembled condition;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the forceps of FIG. 1, in anexploded condition;

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the outer face of a limb of thesaid forceps; and

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the inner face of a limb of aforceps according to the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, itwill be observed that the device of the present invention is constitutedby three main portions: a right-hand limb 1, a left-hand limb 2 and aframework 3, to which said limbs are adapted for pivotal connection.Each limb has a longer part and a shorter part pivotally interconnectedby means of hinges 4, 4, respec- -tively.

Pressure gauge limiting or controlling devices 5, 5', respectively, areinterposed therebetween between the parts of the limbs and support thelimb parts at substantially a right angle. The limbs 1 and 2, whenconnected to framework 3, converge in an outward direction and arealmost straight. The limbs are constructed from stainless steel, and arecold trimmed and coined.

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A first part of the said limb, remote from framework 3, form scoops 13,13, said scoops being of wide dimensions and free of apertures orwindows, and having a cephalic curvature '6, 6', adapted to suit thehead shape of an infant. Each scoop at the outer end is formed with apelvic curve 7, 7' of a small curvature to suit the pelvic channel ofthe mother, and at the other end is joined to an almost straightpedicle, or shank, 8, 8', respectively. Extending between the shanks andthe respective scoops, there are the small regions 9, 9', with perinealcurvature adapted to suit the perineum of a woman. The second parts ofthe limbs are joined to the respective first parts, one by means of theabove recited hinges 4, 4', and at the outer ends, the second partsthereof carry links 10, 10 for engagement with the framework 3.

The devices 5, are interposed between the first and second parts of therespective limbs and serve for the measurement and control of the stressemployed during use of the forceps, and can be designed and constructedin several different forms.

The said framework 3 is formed by two tubes, 11, 11, made of stainlesssteel, or any other suitable material, each about 1.72 centimeters indiameter and about 5.0 centimeters long, and joined to each other bymeans of strips of stainless steel 12, 12, about 25 centimeters long andabout 1.5 centimeters Wide. Although approximate sizes have been statedfor the parts of the forceps, it will be apparent that the same can beotherwise dimensioned, as desired and according to the convenience.

The independence of limbs 1 and 2 allows freedom of movement for aninfants head inside the mothers pelvis, thus permitting lateral movementfacilitating the descent of the infant along the birth canal.

The scoops of the limbs of the forceps are so formed as to insure thatthe points of maximum pressure or stress be on large areas of theinfants face and head, while the straight shanks allow for the tractionat the axis of the pelvic channel. Further, since there is no mechanismfor tightening the limbs on each other, there is no compression stressbearing on the infants head above that allowed by the devices 5, 5'.

It will be apparent that the forceps limbs can be inserted into andremoved from the birth canal separately and, after insertion, can beconnected to the framework. During manipulation of the forceps, the endsof framework 3, at the tubes 11, 11', are grasped by the hands and thethumbs can bear on the tubes via the apertures shown in link portions10, to prevent disengagement of the limbs from the framework.

Although a preferred embodiment of the instant invention has beendisclosed, it will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art, thatvariations and modifications thereof could be made without departingfrom the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An obstetrical forceps for use during parturition and comprising:first and second limb portions and a framework, each limb portioncomprising an elongated first part having a Wide and aperture-free scoopregion at one end and a substantially straight shank extending from thescoop region toward the other end of the said part, each limb portionalso comprising a second part pivotally connected to said other end ofthe respective first part, a device connecting each first part to therespective second part and supporting said parts substantially at rightangles to each other and including spring means resisting movement ofsaid parts relative to each other about the pivotal connectiontherebetween, said second parts extending away from each other when saidfirst parts are disposed in adjacent relation and with the said scoopportions facing each other to define a head receiving region, saidframework extending transversely to said elongated parts at said otherend thereof, and means pivotally connecting said frame to the outer endsof said second parts of said limbs.

2. An obstetrical forceps according to claim 1, in which each said scoopportion is formed substantially to a cephalic curvature so as to engagea large area of the head with the regions thereof nearest said one endof the respective first part being formed to a pelvic curve having asmaller curvature than said cephalic curvature.

3. An obstetrical forceps according to claim 2, in which each scoopportion is joined to the respective shank by a region having a smallcurvature adapted to the perineum.

4. An obstetrical forceps according to claim 1, in which said frameworkcomprises spaced parallel tubes located at opposite ends of theframework and rail means extending between and connected to the tubes.

5. An obstetrical forceps according to claim 1, in which said firstparts are adapted to converge toward the said one ends thereof when saidsecond parts are connected to said framework.

6. An obstetrical forceps according to claim 5, in which the outer endsof said second parts are formed with arcuate recesses therein facingsaid one ends of said first parts and said framework comprises bar-likeend parts detachably receivable in said recesses.

7. An obstetrical forceps according to claim 6, in which at least saidfirst parts are stainless steel and are cold trimmed and coined.

8. An obstetrical forceps according to claim 1, in which said device isdetachable from at least one of said first and second parts.

9. An obstetrical forceps according to claim 1, in which each said firstpart is curved in cross section from end to end and is concave on theside facing away from the side toward which said second part extends.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,088,465 5/1963 Smith 128-323FOREIGN PATENTS 115,450 11/1876 France 128-323 298,159 3/1900 France128-323 CHANNING L. PACE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X,R. 294-106

